Andy's Market in Taunton shifting hands from one friend to another

Sunday

Jun 11, 2017 at 8:44 PMJun 11, 2017 at 9:44 PM

Charles Winokoor Taunton Gazette Staff Reporter @cwinokoor

TAUNTON — Cricket makes for strange bedfellows, and sometimes a business opportunity.

Such was the case for Bikram Singh and Bharat Patel, both of whom for the past two years have played together on teams belonging to Boston Gymkhana — the cricket club that Singh started more than 10 years ago.

The cricket connection has turned out to be pivotal in terms of the legacy and vitality of Andy’s Market and Liquors — the Bay Street business that more than 60 years ago was started by the late Andy LeBlanc and later handed down to sons Donald and Norman.

Singh recently sold the business and building to Patel.

Singh bought Andy’s Market and Liquors in 2004 with his then partner, Ravi Pitti, whom he’d met as result of playing cricket.

Both were Indian nationals with backgrounds in technical and engineering fields, but who eventually became entrepreneurs after settling in the United States.

“It seems like I’m a serial entrepreneur,” Singh said in an interview shortly after buying Andy’s Market — during which he noted his previous employment as an environmental engineer with Clean Harbors.

Singh at the time said he’d been informed that Andy’s was for sale by another fellow cricket player, who himself was a liquor store owner.

It didn’t take Singh long to incorporate and develop a retail component heretofore not associated with the modest, unassuming store.

He expanded its inventory of wines, adding what he said were hundreds of new selections, and began to hold wine tastings.

What came next was what Singh has said is an expression of one of his true passions: fine whiskey.

He dramatically and selectively expanded his inventory and began holding free whiskey tastings — both in-store and at other Taunton locations — all of which were hosted by representatives from various distilleries and distributors.

Word began to spread, Singh said, and customers from outside the area, including Connecticut and Cape Cod, would call and drive in to meet him and buy hard-to-find single malts, Scotch and bourbon.

In 2013 Singh bought Norfolk Wine and Spirits and brought it up to the inventory standards of the Taunton store.

“It had no selection at all, like Andy’s (used to be),” he said of the physically smaller Norfolk store.

Over time he shifted tasting events from Taunton to Norfolk.

Patel, meanwhile, says he gained retail experience in a Mattapoisett gas station and convenience store with a liquor license before buying a liquor store in Malden.

He also says he’s a certified financial advisor, having previously worked for Trilogy Financial Services in Woburn.

Both Patel and Singh say the timing is right for the transition.

Singh, 51, lives in Norfolk — which is roughly two dozen miles from Taunton — with his wife and their two children ages 12 and 15.

He says as the kids have grown older he’s taken on certain responsibilities, such as picking them up after school. Over time, Singh said, he only infrequently visited the Taunton store.

“It came down to the time and my family,” he said.

What also helped seal the deal, Singh added, was the loss last year of Andy’s store manager Kathy Chaves, who left for a different job.

Singh describes Patel as a good friend with “integrity” who is “hardworking and honest” and will “take Andy’s to the next level.”

Patel, 57, said he’ll continue “the legacy” of Singh’s version of Andy’s Market, which will include bringing back whiskey tastings.

He also said he’ll beef up and diversify the craft-beer section.

“It’s something that people are clamoring for, but I missed it,” Singh mused.

Patel and Singh say they don’t see each other as being in competition.

“If he’s successful I’m successful,” Singh said.

He also says he’ll help Patel become familiar with running whiskey tastings.

Patel, who lives in Kinsgton, says his wife will likely come in a few days a week to help him in the store. The couple have a son in college.

Patel says he plans to repave what has become a rather ragged parking lot and might even bring back live bait for weekend fishermen.

Singh notes he grew up in northern India’s Punjab state but was born in the city of Ahmedabad, where Patel lived before coming to the United States.

Often compared to common American names like Smith and Jones, Patel said people from India with his last name have developed something of a reputation in the States.

“Patels are hard-working people,” he said. “We go out and take risks and work a lot in retail.”